Evaluation of specific germ cell genes expression in mouse embryonic stem cell-derived germ cell like cells treated with bone morphogenetic protein 4 in vitro.

BACKGROUND

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a significant signaling molecule that involves in initiating of differentiation and performs multifunctional effects on embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and embryos.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of the present study was to evaluate an in vitro differentiation model of mouse embryonic stem cells into germ cells, using BMP4.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

in this experimental study, we used Oct4-GFP mouse ESCs to form embryoid body (EB) aggregations for two days. Then, single cells from EB were cultured for four days with BMP4. Using MTT assay and gene expression levels for evaluation of Mvh and Riken by real-time RT-PCR of six concentrations, 12.5 ng/ ml BMP4 was determined as an optimized dose. Then, the expression level of , , , , , , , were evaluated. Flow cytometry and immunostaning were used to confirm the findings of the real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTS

In the +BMP4 group, the genes encoding Riken (p≤0.001) and (p≤0.001) were found to be increased with significant differences compared with the control group. (p=0.22), (p=0.10), (p=0.90), (p=0.61) and (p=0.08) were up-regulated without significance differences compared with control group. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the mean number of -positive cells in the +BMP4 group was greater when compared with ESCs, -BMP4 and EB groups (p=0.03, p≤0.001, p=0.02, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Down-regulation of , expression of germ cells genes and meiosis markers expression raise this hypothesis that ESCs were differentiated by BMP4, and may be introduced into the first meiosis as germ cell-like cells.